Hot Kohl's

The Kohl's Corp. (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) has announced plans to open 112 new stores in the next 18 months, many of those in new markets. It will represent a 27 percent expansion.

Long-range plans are for the retailer, which has been enjoying a string of quarterly sales increases, to increase its total space 18 to 20 percent a year.

There will be 32 new stores opened the balance of 2002, and 80 more in 2003. Among the new markets will be Boston, Houston, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Nashville, Tenn., Providence, R.I., and throughout Southern California.